Seasoned Katupose eyes CHAN final berth

VETERAN striker Muna Katupose, who was instrumental in the Brave Warriors qualifying for the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) fi­nals, when he headed home two goals against Comoros, has welcomed the challenge to compete for a berth in the final squad, which will feature in tournament for the first time, as Group B underdogs.
Brave Warriors head coach Ricardo Mannetti announced a 31-man squad this week and is set to trim them down to the final 23 players by 2 January 2018. The CHAN finals are set to take place in Morocco lat­er in January. Asked about his chances of making the final cut for Morocco, Katupose told Confidente this week that he will be working extremely hard, in order to regain his fitness lev­els, after having nursed a right knee injury.
“I know the decision lies with the head coach, but after work­ing on the target that I have set up for myself, I confidently think that my speed and ex­perience does count for some­thing,” stressed Katupose.
The University of Namibia (Unam) FC seasoned striker is the only player in the current squad who has continental experience, after having repre­sented Namibia at the 2008 Af­rican Cup of Nations (Afcon) held in Ghana. Asked about his injury, Katupose, who is the twin brother of Tara Katupose, said that his right knee has shown tremendous improve­ment, and thanked the medics for a job well done.
Katupose said that the strik­ers called up for the training camp are all good players, and are comprised of those who have speed, a height advantage, individual brilliance and expe­rience.
“It’s really a combination of what I think the coach wants, as we have different talents that could be beneficial to the team,” said Katupose. Although they are regarded as Group B underdogs, the striker echoed Mannetti’s sentiments and con­fidence that they will be pro­gressing well beyond the group stages.
The Brave Warriors will open their campaign against Ivory Coast on 14 January at the Stade de Marrakech, before engaging Uganda on 18 Jan­uary at the same venue, while their final group encounter is scheduled to take place against Southern African Develop­ment Community (SADC) sis­ter country Zambia on 22 Jan­uary in Casablanca at the Stade Mohamed.
“Well, this is a competi­tion being played by domestic players in their various home leagues, and I am not really afraid of Ivory Coast or Ugan­da, as we will be taking the matches a step at a time,” he said. “I really have the same thought as my coach, that we will progress beyond the group stages,” said the striker.
Katupose’s competitors in the Brave Warriors striking de­partment are Roger Kumbee Katjiteo, Junias Theophilus, Panduleni Nekundi, Hendrick Somaeb and Kleopas Useb.
The 31-man Brave Warriors squad is as follows:
Edward Maova (Civics FC), Charles Uirab (Unam FC), Loydt Kazapua (African Stars FC), Calvyn Spiegel (Chief Santos FC), Ferdinard Karon­gee (Tigers FC), Kennedy Eib (Chief Santos FC), Tjiuana-Tja Tjatindi (African Stars FC), Hubert Mingeri (Life Fighters FC), Charles Hambira (Tura Magic FC), Edmund Kam­banda (Unam FC), Martin Emilio (Black Africa SC), Ti­berius Lombard ( Tura Magic FC), Vitapi Punyu Ngaru­ka (Black Africa SC), Riaan !Hanamub (Orlando Pirates FC), Gregory Auchumeb (Blue Waters FC), Immanuel Heita (Black Africa SC), Dy­namo Fredericks (Black Africa SC), Oswaldo Xamseb (Tura Magic FC), Penda Mongudhi (Young Chiefs FC), Ronald Ketjijere (African Stars FC), Wangu Babtista Gome (Civ­ics FC), Petrus Shitembi (Tura Magic FC), Absalom Iimbon­di (Tigers FC) and Himeezem­bi Hengombe (Young African FC)